Current Affairs 24th October 2026 : Daily GK Update in English
1. United Nations Day is observed every year on which date?
A) 24 September
B) 24 October
C) 10 December
D) 26 June
Answer: B) 24 October
Explanation: UN Day marks the entry into force of the UN Charter on 24 October 1945. In 2026, it marks the 81st anniversary of the organisation.
2. What is the theme/focus highlighted for United Nations Day 2026 by the UN Secretary-General?
A) Our Planet, Our Future
B) Dialogue over division, cooperation over confrontation, and solidarity over fear
C) Ending Polio
D) Climate Ambition
Answer: B) Dialogue over division, cooperation over confrontation, and solidarity over fear
Explanation: Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised these values in his 2026 UN Day message, stressing the continued relevance of the UN amid conflicts, climate crisis and inequalities.
3. Which two leaders held talks in October 2026 and set a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030?
A) PM Modi and French President
B) PM Modi and Polish PM Donald Tusk
C) PM Modi and German Chancellor
D) PM Modi and Canadian PM
Answer: B) PM Modi and Polish PM Donald Tusk
Explanation: During Polish PM Donald Tusk’s visit to India (around 21–23 October 2026), both sides agreed to double bilateral trade (then ~USD 6 billion) by 2030 and deepen cooperation in defence, space, nuclear energy, critical minerals and AI.
4. The Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape, recently added to UNESCO’s Tentative List, is located in which state?
A) Madhya Pradesh
B) Odisha
C) Chhattisgarh
D) Bihar
Answer: C) Chhattisgarh
Explanation: Sirpur (Mahasamund district, on the banks of the Mahanadi, ~78 km from Raipur) was added to UNESCO’s Tentative List in October 2026 along with two Andaman sites.
5. Which other sites from India were added to the UNESCO Tentative List alongside Sirpur in October 2026?
A) Only Barren Island
B) Baratang Karst-Mud Volcano Complex and Andaman Subduction Volcanoes (Narcondam & Barren Islands)
C) Khajuraho and Sanchi
D) Only Narcondam Island
Answer: B) Baratang Karst-Mud Volcano Complex and Andaman Subduction Volcanoes (Narcondam & Barren Islands)
Explanation: These three sites (two geological in Andaman & Nicobar and one cultural in Chhattisgarh) were added to India’s Tentative List.
6. The 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting was held in:
A) India
B) Tajikistan (Dushanbe)
C) China
D) Russia
Answer: B) Tajikistan (Dushanbe)
Explanation: It took place around 19–20 October 2026 under Tajikistan’s chairmanship.
7. The UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2026 is titled:
A) The Closing Window
B) The Point of Return
C) Broken Record
D) Emissions Gap 2026
Answer: B) The Point of Return
Explanation: The 17th edition warned that temporarily exceeding the 1.5°C limit is now unavoidable without urgent action and called for deep emission cuts (e.g., 45% by 2035 relative to 2025 levels).
8. A magnitude 7.0 earthquake in October 2026 that killed at least 16 people struck which region?
A) Nepal
B) Tibet’s Nagqu city (China)
C) Afghanistan
D) Myanmar
Answer: B) Tibet’s Nagqu city (China)
Explanation: The quake caused significant damage, with over 12,000 residents moved to safety and many homes collapsed.
9. US First Lady Melania Trump reportedly helped secure a temporary ceasefire in which Russian-occupied Ukrainian city?
A) Mariupol
B) Oleshky
C) Kherson
D) Donetsk
Answer: B) Oleshky
Explanation: The temporary truce (scheduled to begin around 29 October 2026) was aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations.
10. Protests in Delhi in late October 2026 were mainly against:
A) Farm laws
B) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
C) New education policy
D) Fuel price hike
Answer: B) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
Explanation: Delhi Police detained several protesters as a march against the SIR headed towards the Election Commission of India headquarters.
11. The 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) commenced in:
A) Chennai
B) Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
C) Kochi
D) Mumbai
Answer: B) Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Explanation: SIMBEX is a major bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy.
12. India climbed to which position in the medal tally at the 2026 Asian Para Games (Aichi-Nagoya) with around 88 medals (as of mid-event reports)?
A) 2nd
B) 3rd
C) 4th
D) 5th
Answer: C) 4th
Explanation: India performed strongly, winning multiple golds on successive days and ranking fourth overall (level on golds with some nations but higher in total medals in reports).
13. Who was appointed as the next Chairman of ONGC for a three-year term (effective around December 2026)?
A) Arun Kumar Singh
B) Sunil Kumar
C) A new external candidate
D) Rameshwar Teli
Answer: B) Sunil Kumar
Explanation: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Sunil Kumar (then Executive Director) to succeed Arun Kumar Singh.
14. President Droupadi Murmu released a ₹200 commemorative coin to mark the bicentenary of:
A) A freedom fighter
B) Mata Sahib Hasi Devi Ji (Sindhi saint)
C) A classical musician
D) A scientist
Answer: B) Mata Sahib Hasi Devi Ji (Sindhi saint)
Explanation: The coin was released in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, to mark the 200th birth anniversary of the fifth spiritual head of Shadani Darbar.
15. World Polio Day is also observed on the same date as United Nations Day. What is the approximate theme focus for 2026?
A) Vaccinate Every Child
B) Together, We End Polio
C) Polio-Free World
D) Eradicate Now
Answer: B) Together, We End Polio
Explanation: World Polio Day (24 October) emphasises global collaboration for eradication; India has maintained polio-free status for many years.
16. A deadly firecracker explosion in October 2026 that killed four people occurred in which Bihar district?
A) Patna
B) Siwan
C) Gaya
D) Muzaffarpur
Answer: B) Siwan
Explanation: The blast at a firecracker trader’s home left four dead and three others unaccounted for, raising safety concerns.
17. The IMD indicated that a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal was likely to strengthen into a depression around 24 October 2026, posing risks to:
A) Gujarat and Maharashtra
B) North coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha
C) West Bengal and Bangladesh only
D) Kerala and Tamil Nadu only
Answer: B) North coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha
Explanation: Weather updates highlighted the system’s potential intensification and associated rainfall/cyclone risks.
18. NSTFDC, NSDC and SAIL (Rourkela Steel Plant) signed a tripartite MoU to promote entrepreneurship among which group in Odisha?
A) Women entrepreneurs
B) Scheduled Tribe (ST) youth
C) Differently-abled persons
D) Urban youth
Answer: B) Scheduled Tribe (ST) youth
Explanation: The MoU focuses on skill development, livelihood generation and entrepreneurship support through the Livelihood Business Incubation Centre at Rourkela.
19. The indigenous Nagastra 2, delivered to the Indian Army, is a type of:
A) Main battle tank
B) Anti-tank loitering munition (kamikaze UAV)
C) Surface-to-air missile
D) Artillery gun
Answer: B) Anti-tank loitering munition (kamikaze UAV)
Explanation: Developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, it features a tandem shaped-charge warhead for precision strikes against armoured targets.
20. BSE signed an agreement with MMTC-PAMP to develop and expand India’s market in:
A) Cryptocurrency
B) Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs)
C) Sovereign Gold Bonds only
D) Silver futures
Answer: B) Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs)
Explanation: The partnership aims to boost liquidity, transparency and conversion between physical gold and electronic receipts.
21. Dr L. Murugan resigned as Minister of State from which ministries in October 2026?
A) Home and Defence
B) Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs
C) Agriculture and Rural Development
D) External Affairs and Commerce
Answer: B) Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs
Explanation: He resigned to focus on grassroots politics in Tamil Nadu; a Rajya Sabha by-election was subsequently announced.
22. The first documented human infection and fatality from the Shamonda virus was reported in:
A) India
B) France (Lyon)
C) Africa
D) China
Answer: B) France (Lyon)
Explanation: WHO confirmed the case in an immunocompromised patient; the virus is a zoonotic orthobunyavirus.
23. Jio Platforms’ IPO, described as India’s largest ever, closed around:
A) Early October 2026
B) 21–23 October 2026
C) November 2026
D) September 2026
Answer: B) 21–23 October 2026
Explanation: The offering was a major market event closing in late October 2026.
24. A six-member SIT headed by a retired Calcutta High Court judge was formed to probe a stampede at which event in Kolkata?
A) Kali Puja
B) Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal
C) New Year celebrations
D) Book fair
Answer: B) Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal
Explanation: The West Bengal government constituted the SIT (headed by Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati) with a three-month deadline.
25. The ITBP Director-General confirmed that face-offs with China continued in which Indian state/region?
A) Ladakh only
B) Arunachal Pradesh
C) Sikkim
D) Uttarakhand
Answer: B) Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation: Reports highlighted ongoing tensions at locations such as Asaphila despite diplomatic engagements.